Still the food.

The side salads are excellent,varied choice of dressing, the blue cheese my favourite, Lisbon : PAUL coffee shop.The best croissant ever,it equals and out-tastes those from the five star hotel Bauer, in Venice,and I never thought I would say that in a hurry!A Portuguese tart-always far too sweet for my not very sweet tooth,but never am I able to resist it-flaky melt in the mouth pastry, and the custard filling,oh la la. Chicken sandwich, sooo good,made with freshly baked bread,two cups of coffee, milk served separately.Yes,two cups,greedy, but who could resist the deliciousness of the aromatic brew? And served with such charm,with smile,in immaculate white overalls.And Lisbon is full of little wonders like PAUL. Bought a cabin suitcase for 30 euros,as light as a feather,to give to my little god-son to carry in July on a plane when we all go to cruise on Britannia for a week. Couldn't resist a lovely blue/red/white cross body bag, and a plastic beauty bag with the most adorable birds of paradise,together about 33 euros.A bargain. I have never bought a thing in this capital I hadn't adored.I cant wait to be back over Christmas. Yes, if all goes as planned, I will be sailing on Oceana over Christmas and the New Year to Canary Islands again. My fears Re Britannia have been allayed by a couple, who had travelled on this largest cruiser ever built for the British market,several times last year.Discerning travelers,they loved it.All bodes well for the week's family holiday.I so want every-one to be happy and content and well rested. Dinner last evening - schnitzel with some spatzle.Now the schnitzel was a disappointment, not the melt in the mouth variety,as it should be, if it is to be savoured in all its super duperdness.But it was presented enticingly. Spatzle,whatever it is,must look it up in the dictionary,was lovely,the cabbage mash looked rather strange but was delicious.What more can a girl want? And all this preceded by the best soup ever, the main ingredient being a pear.The meal finished with cranachan, again a bit sweet, but perfection itself.Cranberry tea to wash it all down .Can life be any better? Oh yes,looked up the word spatzle,it is noodles from Southern Germany.And for those who do not know what cranachan is - it is a Scottish desert made from oats, cream and sugar are added, I think I also detected some ground nuts.Rather lovely it was. The regional dishes can be quite something,normally invented by poor masses, they do use their imagination. I absolutely adore Victoria sponge. I have a simple Cordon Bleu recipe for it.Once I just put together a freshly baked sponge, when a plumber arrived.As he was to work in the kitchen and the cake was on the table ,I asked him if he would like a slice.Yes, please,he said. I left him there. He finished,I paid him, said good-bye, tidied up,put the kettle on and then it hit me, the cake was gone. Yes,he had it all. No time to bake another for my husband,who was looking forward to it.[he had a very sweet tooth.] I told him what happened. You sure you made it?, he asked in disbelief. I gave him one of my special looks,you know, the type every wife saves for a special occasion. You did,he said.